Top Ten Reads on My Summer Reading List

A couple of weeks ago the hosts of Top Ten Tuesday, The Broke and The Bookish, asked book bloggers to share their beach read suggestions. I took that to mean, what are the books I've read I think others might like whether they are on the beach, in the woods, or at home this summer. Today the question has been rephrased slightly to be "Top Ten Books on My Summer TBR List."

I have to admit that there are still a number of books from my Spring TBR list that I haven't gotten too, but since Spring is the official season for another four days, I've got my fingers crossed I can still get a couple more of those books into the "read" pile before the solstice!

For summer, my list as of today consists of the following titles, all of which are not yet released, but which are all going to be available before the autumnal equinox:

Life Drawing by Robin Black (July 15)

This is one I from my Spring list that I am sorry I didn't get to sooner, but I kept delaying it in an attempt to tackle titles with earlier release dates. Well, I can delay no longer, it's hitting the shelves on July 15 and has already been garnering some rave reviews. Must read this now.









The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters (September 16)

One of my Book Expo America (BEA) must have titles. It is currently waiting for me in Maine where I will be in a bit more than a week. Time to travel back to the 1920s.










World of Trouble by Ben H. Winters (July 15)

I've loved the first two installments in this award winning mystery series with speculative fiction elements. How does a decent person do the right thing in a world that is about to end? I cannot wait to find out, though I will be very sorry to have no more of Detective Hank Palace's story to look forward to each summer.








Lock In by John Scalzi (August 26)

I am a relatively recent convert to Scalzi fandom, but based on reading several of his books now, I know this will be smart, thoughtful and, even as it verges towards dark possibilities, funny. I have the prequel novella to keep me occupied until I reunite with my copy of the book -- it is also sitting in Maine.









Neverhome by Laird Hunt (September 9)

This was a BEA buzz book and while I'm not sure I would have picked it up on my own, Laird's editor made it sound so compelling, mysterious and literate that I have to read it.










The Angel of Losses by Stephanie Friedman (July 29)

Jewish folklore, family heritage and mysterious books -- clearly this book is meant for me. Stephanie is also based in suburban Philadelphia, her book is coming out on my birthday, and Main Point Books is hosting the launch party which, 'sob', I will miss.









Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (September 9)

The second of the three BEA Adult Buzz books on this list. I have been meaning to read some of Emily's work and while I have The Lola Quartet in a pile somewhere in my office, I think I will start with this new one. Her editor did an astonishing job of making it sound elegiacal, thoughtful and mysterious.








The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell (September 2)

This was a not-to-be-missed galley for me, and many others at BEA. The book sounds deliciously complicated and globe spanning and smart. Everything a David Mitchell novel should be. I had a start seeing his visage blown up to ginormous size on The Bone Clocks banner at the Javits center. It portrayed him as the epitome of  "The Serious Novelist" -- when I saw him at the Free Library of Philadelphia in 2012, he was funny and irreverent. I couldn't get over the contrast.






Mambo in Chinatown by Jean Kwok (June 24)

I just picked up Jean's first book "Girl in Translation" that I've been eyeing for some time. This new book looks like a wonderful exploration of a defining experience for so many Americans -- how to navigate two cultures and arrive at a sense of self and feeling of belonging.









We Are Not Ourselves by Matthew Thomas (August 19)

The über buzz book. I say that because not only was it a BEA buzz book, but I had already received an ARC as a part of a Powell's Indiespensable package. So, we'll see if it stands up to the hype -- certainly his editor gave a great pitch for why we should all tackle this 600+ page novel. Also, it's been some time since I read anything that covers the mid-century Bronx which is where my father spent his youth.

I could go on and list another ten or more books I really want to read this summer, but I'll stop here for today!

What is on your summer TBR pile?